Transient Resonance Raman and ab Initio MO Calculation Studies of the Structures and Vibrational Assignments of the T1 State and the Anion Radical of Coumarin and Its Isotopically Substituted Analogues

Zigzag boron nitride nanotube functionalization as a sensor for the recognition of group IIA (Mg2+, Ca2+) metal ions, quasi-metal (Si2+, Ge2+) ions, and transition metal (Cu2+, Zn2+) ions: a computational study

CONTEXT

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) provide an exceptional and sophisticated platform for detecting metal ions with high surface area and remarkable chemical stability. Metal cations tend to bind to the surface of BNNTs, which leads to significant changes in the electrical properties of nanotubes. BNNT-based metal ion sensors have shown promising results in various applications, including water quality monitoring, biomedical research, industrial quality control, and environmental monitoring. In the present study, we have explored the electronic sensitivity of the BNNT to metal ions (Si2+, Ge2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Ca2+). The interaction between the ions with the pristine BNNT is performed in the solution phase. The results show that ion adsorption on the nanotube surface is exothermic and favorable. The density of states calculation is presented to investigate the electronic properties of the nanotube during the adsorption process. The results display that an increase in the electrical conductivity of the complexes accompanies the reduction in the energy gap. Based on the obtained data, the Si2+ and Ge2+ cations adsorbed on the BNNT with satisfactory Eg changes (%ΔE) can be promising candidates for better sensing ability.

METHOD

All calculations are conducted within the density functional theory (DFT) using the ωB97XD functional and 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The present approach incorporates the utilization of empirical atom-atom dispersion in conjunction with long-range correction. The calculations are performed using the quantum chemistry package GAMESS, and the obtained results are visualized by employing the GaussView 6.0.16 program.

A density functional theory study of the molecular structure, reactivity, and spectroscopic properties of 2-(2-mercaptophenyl)-1-azaazulene tautomers and rotamers

Five stable tautomer and rotamers of the 2-(2-Mercaptophenyl)-1-azaazulene (thiol, thione, R1, R2, and R3) molecules were studied using density functional theory (DFT). The geometries of the studied tautomer and rotamers were fully optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level. Thermodynamic calculations were performed at M06-2X/6-311G++(2d,2p) and ωB97XD/6-311G++(2d,2p) in the gas phase and ethanol solution conditions modeled by the solvation model based on density (SMD). The kinetic constant of tautomer and rotamers conversion was calculated in the temperature range 270-320 K using variational transition state theory (VTST) accompanied by one-dimensional wigner tunneling correction. Energy refinement at CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2d,2p) in the gas phase has been calculated. All the studied DFT methods qualitatively give similar tautomer stability orders in the gas phase. The ethanol solvent causes some reordering of the relative stability of 2-(2-Mercaptophenyl)-1-azaazulene conformers. The transition states for the 2-(2-Mercaptophenyl)-1-azaazulene tautomerization and rotamerization processes were also determined. The reactivity, electric dipole moment, and spectroscopic properties of the studied tautomer and rotamers were computed. The hyper-Rayleigh scattering (βHRS), and depolarization ratio (DR) exhibited promising optical properties when nonlinear optical properties were calculated.

Investigating the biological actions of some Schiff bases using density functional theory study

Schiff base ligands have wide varieties of application in several fields. One of which is the biological actions they possess such as anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-malarial, and anti-viral characteristics. In this study, some synthesized phenylimino-based Schiff bases were investigated using density functional theory (DFT) to unravel their biological descriptors. The gas-phase quantum chemical calculation was done on the Schiff base 3-((E)-(phenylimino)methyl)benzene-1,2-diol and other synthesized analogues to evaluate their reactivity and stability properties including the substituent effect on the basic molecule. The Coulomb-attenuating method (CAM-B3LYP) functional was employed for the theoretical calculations. The Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR), Ultraviolet/visible spectroscopies calculated agrees with the experimental values. The obtained charge transfer and electronic features provide useful information regarding the active sites for biological application in the compounds.

Spectrophotometric-chemometrics study of the effect of solvent composition and temperature on the spectral shape and shift of copper and nickel phthalocyanines in different aqueous-nonaqueous mixed solvents

Phthalocyanines (Pcs) are green-blue colored aromatic macrocyclic compounds used extensively in the dyeing industry. The assembly phenomenon for dye molecules is directly traceable by most of the spectroscopic methods. In this investigation, the monomer-dimer equilibria of copper and nickel phthalocyanines tetra sulfonic acid tetrasodium salts (CuPcTS, NiPcTS) have been investigated by spectrophotometric and chemometrics methods in binary mixtures of H₂O-DMSO and H₂O-CH₃CN. The dimerization constants, (K_D), enthalpies and entropies of CuPcTS and NiPcTS have been calculated by studying the UV-Vis spectra at different concentrations of dyes (10^-6 to 10^-4molL) and in the temperature range 298-343 K and in some samples up to 353 K by multivariate curve resolution (mcr) methods. By increasing the temperature, the value of K_D decreases. The inverse temperature dependence of K_D (van't Hoff equation) was used for determination of ΔH ⁰ and ΔS ⁰and following that ΔG ⁰of the dimerization reactions. As a result, upon aggregation, an increase in the intensity of the new shoulder at (~600 nm) and the Q-band at (662-670 nm) and concomitant decrease of the dimer band at (630-624 nm) are observed for all of the samples in different solvents composition. Therefore, the H-dimer type of these pigments was notable, in studied binary solvents. The effect of the solvent composition, concentration dye, and temperature on the spectral responses, the exciton parameters and concentration distribution diagrams of the two pigments were studied and discussed. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations were done in the aqueous and gas phase that they were included the HOMO-LUMO energies and the simulated UV-Vis spectrum. These calculations were beneficial for studying the UV-Vis spectrum of it in the aqueous phase for checking experimental data.

Inhibition mechanism of L,D-transpeptidase 5 in presence of the β-lactams using ONIOM method

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's deadliest diseases resulting from infection by the bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). The L,D-transpeptidase enzymes catalyze the synthesis of 3 → 3 transpeptide linkages which are predominant in the peptidoglycan of the M.tb cell wall. Carbapenems is class of β-lactams that inactivate L,D-transpeptidases by acylation, although differences in antibiotic side chains modulate drug binding and acylation rates. Herein, we used a two-layered our Own N-layer integrated Molecular Mechanics ONIOM method to investigate the catalytic mechanism of L,D-transpeptidase 5 (Ldt_Mt5) by β-lactam derivatives. Ldt_Mt5 complexes with six β-lactams, ZINC03788344 (1), ZINC02462884 (2), ZINC03791246 (3), ZINC03808351 (4), ZINC03784242 (5) and ZINC02475683 (6) were simulated. The QM region (high-level) comprises the β-lactam, one water molecule and the Cys360 catalytic residue, while the rest of the Ldt_Mt5 residues were treated with AMBER force field. The activation energies (ΔG^#) were calculated with B3LYP, M06-2X and ωB97X density functionals with 6-311++G(2d, 2p) basis set. The ΔG^# for the acylation of Ldt_Mt5 by the selected β-lactams were obtained as 13.67, 20.90, 22.88, 24.29, 27.86 and 28.26 kcal mol^-1respectively. Several of the compounds showed an improved ΔG^# when compared to the previously calculated energies for imipenem and meropenem for the acylation step for Ldt_Mt5. This model provides further validation of the catalytic inhibition mechanism of LDTs with atomistic detail.

Powder diffraction and crystal structure prediction identify four new coumarin polymorphs

Coumarin, a simple, commodity chemical isolated from beans in 1820, has, to date, only yielded one solid state structure. Here, we report a rich polymorphism of coumarin grown from the melt. Four new metastable forms were identified and their crystal structures were solved using a combination of computational crystal structure prediction algorithms and X-ray powder diffraction. With five crystal structures, coumarin has become one of the few rigid molecules showing extensive polymorphism at ambient conditions. We demonstrate the crucial role of advanced electronic structure calculations including many-body dispersion effects for accurate ranking of the stability of coumarin polymorphs and the need to account for anharmonic vibrational contributions to their free energy. As such, coumarin is a model system for studying weak intermolecular interactions, crystallization mechanisms, and kinetic effects.

Multi-state nonadiabatic deactivation mechanism of coumarin revealed by ab initio on-the-fly trajectory surface hopping dynamic simulation

An on-the-fly trajectory surface hopping dynamic simulation has been performed for revealing the multi-state nonadiabatic deactivation mechanism of coumarin.

Structural, spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR) and computational analysis (DOS, NBO, Fukui) of 3,5-dimethylisoxazole and 4-(chloromethyl)-3,5-dimethylisoxazole: A DFT study

The theoretical and computational analysis of two isoxazole derivatives 3,5-dimethylisoxazole and 4-chloromethyl-3,5-dimethylisoxazole were carried out along with some of the experimental evidences. The density functional theory calculations of these compounds were done with DFT/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) basis set using Gaussian 09 software. From the DFT calculations, the optimization geometry, vibrational analysis, electronic properties, local reactivity descriptors, natural bond orbitals, and other structural properties of the title compounds were elucidated. The chemical shifts of every C and H atom of the title compounds were calculated using Gauge Independent Atomic orbitals (GIAO) method for both proton and carbon NMR spectra. The molecular electrostatic potential of DMI has been found out and the difference in MEP on addition of chloromethyl group is also discussed. The hyperpolarizability calculations of the investigated molecules shows that the nonlinear optical activity of CDMI is greater when compared to DMI.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-{[5-(2-cyano-2-phenylethenyl)]furan-2-yl}acrylonitrile molecule as a potential acceptor in organic solar cells

A novel soluble asymmetric acrylonitrile derivative, 2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3-{[5-(2-cyano-2-phenylethenyl)]furan-2-yl}acrylonitrile (CPCPFA, 3) was synthesized in three steps by Knoevenagel condensation. The structure of the CPCPFA was characterized using UV-vis, FTIR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and LC-MS. CPCPFA was evaluated as an electron acceptor in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells. Its optical and electronic properties as well as photovoltaic performance were investigated.

Quantum chemical density functional theory studies on the molecular structure and vibrational spectra of mannitol

A collective experimental and theoretical study was conducted on the molecular structure and vibrational spectra of mannitol. The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of mannitol were recorded in the solid phase. The molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies, thermodynamic functions and atomic charges of mannitol in the ground state have been calculated by using the ab initio HF (Hartree-Fock) and density functional methods (B3LYP) invoking cc-pVDZ basis set. The complete vibrational assignments were performed on the basis of Total Energy Distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes. The UV absorption spectra of the title compound dissolved in water. Natural bond orbital analysis has been carried out to explain the charge transfer or delocalization of charge due to the intra-molecular interactions. The (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) chemical shifts of the molecule were calculated by GIAO methods. The first order hyperpolarizability (β0) of this novel molecular system and related properties (β, α0 and Δα) of mannitol are calculated using B3LYP/cc-pVDZ and HF/cc-pVDZ methods on the finite-field approach. By using TD-DFT calculation, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with experimental one is established. In addition, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) have been investigated using theoretical calculations, the calculated HOMO and LUMO energies shows that the charge transfer within the molecule.

Molecular structure, vibrational spectroscopy, NBO and HOMO, LUMO studies of o-methoxybenzonitrile

In the present study, the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of o-methoxybenzonitrile (O-MBN) have been recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) and 3500-50 cm(-1), respectively. The fundamental modes of vibrational frequencies of O-MBN are assigned. Theoretical information on the optimized geometry, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared and Raman intensities were obtained by means of ab initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) gradient calculations with complete relaxation in the potential energy surface using 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The vibrational frequencies which were determined experimentally from the spectral data are compared with those obtained theoretically from ab initio and DFT calculations. A close agreement was achieved between the observed and calculated frequencies by refinement of the scale factors. The infrared and Raman spectra were also predicted from the calculated intensities. Thermodynamic properties like entropy, heat capacity, zero point energy, have been calculated for the molecule. The predicted first hyperpolarizability also shows that the molecule might have a reasonably good non-linear optical (NLO) behavior. The calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap reveals that charge transfer occurs within the molecule. Stability of the molecule arising from hyper conjugative interactions, charge delocalization have been analyzed using natural bond orbitals (NBO) analysis. Unambiguous vibrational assignment of all the fundamentals was made using the total energy distribution (TED).

Density functional theory investigations on the conformational stability, molecular structure and vibrational spectra of 6-methyl-2-chromenone

The Fourier-transform infrared and FT-Raman spectra of 6-methyl-2-chromenone (6M2C) was recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1) and 3500-50 cm(-1) respectively. Quantum chemical calculations of energies, geometrical structure and vibrational wavenumbers of 6M2C were carried out by density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP and LSDA) method with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The difference between the observed and scaled wavenumber values of most of the fundamentals is very small. The values of the total dipole moment (μ) and the first order hyperpolarizability (β) of the investigated compound were computed using B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) calculations. The calculated results also show that 6M2C might have microscopic non-linear optical (NLO) behaviour with non-zero values. A detailed interpretation of infrared and Raman spectra of 6M2C is also reported. The calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gap shows that charge transfer occur within the molecule. The molecular electrostatic potential map shows that the negative potential sites are on the electronegative atoms as well as the positive potential sites are around the hydrogen atoms. The NMR spectrum is used in conjunction with other forms of spectroscopy and chemical analysis to determinate the structures of complicated organic molecules.

Theoretical investigations on the molecular structure, vibrational spectra, thermodynamics, HOMO-LUMO, NBO analyses and paramagnetic susceptibility properties of p-(p-hydroxyphenoxy)benzoic acid

The experimental FT-IR (4000-400 cm(-1)) and FT-Raman (3500-100 cm(-1)) spectra of p-(p-hydroxyphenoxy) benzoic acid have been recorded. Quantum chemical calculations of energies, geometries, and vibrational wavenumbers of p-(p-hydroxyphenoxy) benzoic acid (PPHPBA) are carried out using HF and DFT/B3LYP methods with 6-311G (d,p) basis set. The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by B3LYP method show a good agreement with experimental data. The difference between the observed and scaled wave number values of most of the fundamentals is very small. The complete assignments were performed on the basis of the potential energy distribution (PED) of the vibrational modes calculated with scaled quantum mechanical method. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies allow the calculation of atomic and molecular properties and they also show that charge transfer occurs in the molecule. A detailed molecular picture of PPHPBA and its intermolecular interactions were obtained from NBO analysis. The temperature dependence of various thermodynamic parameters was also studied. The paramagnetic behavior of the molecule under consideration has been investigated and the variation of paramagnetic susceptibility with temperature has been studied.

Molecular structure analysis and spectroscopic characterization of 5-ethyl-5-phenyl-1,3-diazinane-4,6-dione with experimental (FT-IR and FT-Raman) techniques and quantum chemical calculations

In this work, the FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 5-ethyl-5-phenyl-1,3-diazinane-4,6-dione have been recorded. The optimum molecular geometry, normal mode wavenumbers, infrared and Raman intensities, Raman scattering activities, corresponding vibrational assignments and Mullikan atomic charges were investigated with the help of HF and B3LYP(DFT) methods using 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The assignments of vibrational spectra have been carried out with the help of normal co-ordinate analysis (NCA) following the scaled quantum mechanical force field (SQMFF) methodology. The stability of molecule has been analyzed by NBO analysis. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer interactions take place within the molecule. Finally, the Mulliken population analysis on atomic charges of the title compound has been calculated.

Rotational isomers, density functional theory, vibrational spectroscopic studies, thermodynamic functions, NBO and HOMO-LUMO analyses of 2,6-Bis(chloromethyl)pyridine

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of 2,6-Bis(chloromethyl)pyridine (BCMP) have been recorded in the regions 4000-400 cm(-1) and 3500-100 cm(-1), respectively. The total energy calculations of BCMP were tried for the possible rotational isomers. The molecular structure, geometry optimization, vibrational frequencies were obtained by the HF and density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with 6-311+G(d,p) basis set for the most stable rotational isomer "R3". The harmonic frequencies were calculated and the scaled values were compared with experimental FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs in the molecule. The stability of the molecule was analyzed using NBO analysis. The thermodynamic functions (heat capacity, entropy, vibrational partition function and Gibbs energy) were obtained for the range of temperature 100 K-700 K.

Density functional theory, comparative vibrational spectroscopic studies, NBO, HOMO-LUMO analyses and thermodynamic functions of N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide and N-(chloromethyl)phthalimide

Quantum mechanical calculations of energies, geometries, and vibrational wavenumbers of N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide and N-(chloromethyl)phthalimide are carried out using density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with 6-31G and 6-311G(d,p) basis sets. The optimized geometrical parameters obtained by B3LYP method show good agreement with experimental data. The difference between the observed and scaled wavenumber values of most of the fundamentals is very small. A detailed interpretation of the infrared and Raman spectra of N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide and N-(chloromethyl)phthalimide was also reported. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs in the molecules. The thermodynamic functions of N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide and N-(chloromethyl)phthalimide have been performed at B3LYP/6-31G and B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) basis sets. The theoretical spectrograms for FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of N-(bromomethyl)phthalimide and N-(chloromethyl)phthalimide have also been constructed.

Vibrational and ab initio studies of 3-acetyl-6-bromocoumarin and 3-acetyl-6-methylcoumarin

Infrared absorption and Raman spectra (3500-50 cm(-1)) of 3-acetyl-6-bromocoumarin and 3-acetyl-6-methylcoumarin have been measured and interpreted, aided by electronic structure calculations at RHF and B3LYP using 6-31(d, p) basis set. It has been determined that the rotation of the acetyl group with respect to the coumarin ring results in three conformers--two trans and one cis--for each molecule, with one trans conformer being the most stable in both cases. There are significant changes in the vibrational structure as characterized by positions and intensities of certain modes in going from 3-acetyl-6-bromocoumarin to 3-acetyl-6-methylcoumarin. The carbonyl stretching mode of the pyrone ring is stable in both molecules whereas the same mode in acetyl groups is not. Ring stretching vibrations are coupled to C-H in-plane bending vibrations. Down-shifting of frequencies of methyl vibrations in acetyl group occurs vis-à-vis methyl vibrations in 3-acetyl-6-methylcoumarin. A strong Raman band at 126 cm(-1) in both molecules is structure-independent non-genuine mode, correlated to lattice vibrations in the solid phase.

Vibrational spectra, normal modes, ab initio and DFT calculations for 6-Chloro- and 7-Chloro-4-bromomethylcoumarins

Vibration spectral measurements - Infrared (4000-400 cm(-1)) and Raman (3500-50 cm(-1)) spectra - have been made for the solid samples of 6-Chloro- and 7-Chloro-4-bromomethylcoumarins. Ground electronic state energies, equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational spectra and normal modes have been computed using ab initio - RHF/6-31G* - and DFT - B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory. The optimization yielded three structures for each molecule, with one being a transition state structure. Of the remaining two conformers, one belongs to C(s) symmetry and the other belongs to C(1), the latter being the most stable one. The optimized dihedral angle for -CH(2)Br group is 111 degrees in agreement with X-ray diffraction results reported for the similar molecular systems. Assignment of all the observed spectral bands has been proposed. The absorptions show band pattern revealing isomer characteristics and vibrational coupling in varying degrees; the Raman spectra show structural changes associated with the rings as well as lattice modes.

Vibrational spectroscopy investigation using ab initio and density functional theory on 3'-chloropropiophenone and 3'-nitropropiophenone

The FTIR and FT Raman spectra of 3'-chloropropiophenone and 3'-nitropropiophenone have been recorded in the regions 4000-400 and 3500-100 cm(-1) respectively. The optimized geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands of 3'-chloropropiophenone and 3'-nitropropiophenone were obtained by ab initio and DFT levels of theory with complete relaxation in the potential energy surface using 6-31G (d,p) basis set. A complete vibrational assignment aided by the theoretical harmonic frequency analysis has been proposed. The harmonic vibrational frequencies calculated have been compared with experimental FTIR and FT Raman spectra. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The experimental spectra also coincide satisfactorily with those of theoretically constructed simulated spectrograms.

Vibrational assignments for 7-methyl-4-bromomethylcoumarin, as aided by RHF and B3LYP/6-31G* calculations

Infrared (4000-400 cm(-1)) and Raman (3500-50 cm(-1)) spectral measurements have been made for the solid sample of 7-methyl-4-bromomethylcoumarin. Electronic structure calculations at RHF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory have been performed, giving equilibrium geometries, harmonic vibrational spectra and normal modes. Different orientations of bromomethyl group have yielded only two conformers, of which the most stable one lying lower from the other conformer by approximately 7.99 kJ/mol, is non-planar with no symmetry. A complete assignment of the vibrational modes, aided by the calculations, has been proposed. Coupled vibrations are manifest in many modes. Some spectral features, compared to 6-methyl-4-bromomethylcoumarin, show changes across both IR and Raman spectra, involving mainly skeletal vibrations, and to a lesser degree, methyl and bromomethyl vibrations. Low-frequency vibrations below 150 cm(-1) are assigned to lattice modes.

Vibrational spectroscopy investigation using ab initio and density functional theory on p-anisaldehyde

The FTIR and FT Raman spectra of p-anisaldehyde has been recorded in the regions 4,000-400 and 3,500-100 cm(-1), respectively. The optimized geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands of p-anisaldehyde were obtained by ab initio and DFT levels of theory with complete relaxation in the potential energy surface using 6-31G(d,p) basis set. A complete vibrational assignment aided by the theoretical harmonic frequency analysis has been proposed. The harmonic vibrational frequencies calculated have been compared with experimental FTIR and FT Raman spectra. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The experimental spectra also coincide satisfactorily with those of theoretically constructed bar type spectrograms.

Vibrational assignments and electronic structure calculations for 3-acetylcoumarin

Laser Raman (3500-50 cm(-1)) and IR (4000-400 cm(-1)) spectral measurements have been made on the laboratory prepared solid 3-acetylcoumarin. Molecular electronic energy, equilibrium geometrical structure and harmonic vibrational spectra have been computed at the RHF/6-31G(d,p) and B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory. A complete vibrational assignment aided by the theoretical harmonic frequency analysis has been proposed. The B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) geometrical parameters, and frequencies of the C=O in the pyrone and acetyl group are in good agreement with experiment. The difference in the frequencies due to the two carbonyl groups, 50 cm(-1), which is attributed to the conjugation effect, is accounted for by the B3LYP to be 56cm(-1).

FTIR Spectroscopic and Theoretical Study of the Photochemistry of Matrix-isolated Coumarin

The infrared spectrum of monomeric unsubstituted coumarin (C9H6O2; 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one), isolated in solid argon at 10 K is presented and assigned. The UV-induced (lambda>200 nm) unimolecular photochemistry of the matrix-isolated compound was studied experimentally. Three main photoreactions were observed: (a) decarboxylation of the compound and formation of benzocyclobutadiene and CO2, with the Dewar form of coumarin as intermediate; (b) isomerization of the compound, leading to production of a conjugated ketene; and (c) decarbonylation, leading to formation of CO and benzofuran complex. Further decomposition of benzofuran to produce ethynol is suggested. Photochannels (a) and (b) correspond to those previously observed for matrix-isolated alpha-pyrone and its sulfur analogs (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2004, 6, 929; J. Phys. Chem. A 2006, 110, 6415), while route (c) is similar to the UV-induced photochemistry of coumarin in the gaseous phase (J. Phys. Chem. A 2000, 104, 1095). Interpretation of the experimental data is supported by extensive calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p), MP2/6-31G(d,p) and MP2/6-311++G(d,p) levels.

Fourier transform-infrared and Raman spectra, ab initio calculations and assignments for 6-methyl-4-bromomethylcoumarin

Fourier transform-infrared (4000-400 cm-1) and Raman (3500-50 cm-1) spectral measurements have been made for 6-methyl-4-bromomethylcoumarin. Equilibrium structures, harmonic vibrational frequencies, infrared intensities, and depolarization ratios have been computed at RHF/6-31G* and B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory. Twisting CH2Br moiety in the geometry optimization leads to the most stable conformer lacking symmetry (C1). This is reflected in the richness of bands in the experimental spectra. A complete assignments of the bands, aided by the ab initio calculations, has been proposed for the 6-methyl-4-bromomethylcoumarin. Due to lack of symmetry, several normal vibrations have been found to be mixed ones.

NMR spectroscopic, mass spectroscopic, X-ray crystallographic, and theoretical studies of molecular mechanics of natural products: farformolide B and sesamin

Two natural products, farformolide B and sesamin were isolated from Farfugium japonicum and Cinnamomum kanehirae, respectively. The structures of the two natural products, including their relative stereochemistry, were elucidated using spectroscopic data and theoretical calculations. The molecule 1 (farformolide B) is newly recognized by X-ray crystallography. The two compounds were also investigated by a theoretical analysis using the B3LYP/6-31G* method of the Gaussian 03 package program. The theoretical results were supplemented by experimental data to determine the optimal geometric structures of the two compounds. The calculated molecular mechanics were found to compare well with the experimental data. Several important thermodynamic properties of the two products, including ionization potentials, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies, energy gaps, heat of formation, atomization energies, and vibration frequencies, were also calculated. The study also provided a good understanding of the stereochemical structure and thermodynamic properties of the two molecules.